Passion And Pain: King Of The Ring 1998

This article contains accounts and quotes collected from various online sources. Most are provided at the bottom of this page. My sincere appreciation and gratitude goes out to those who shared their memories over the years and those who collected them.

Civic Arena. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. June 28, 1998.

15 years ago, this is where the legend was born.

There's only one match from King Of The Ring 1998 that fans still talk about. A little more than 17,000 people were in attendance that night. In more than a half million other places, people were watching live on pay per view. But every fan has seen that match.

In The Bleachers At Super Indy XII

It's important to support independent professional wrestling. Every fan should.

I was fortunate to be able to attend IWC Super Indy XII, and I wanted to share my impressions. It was a great show. I was really impressed by the presentation. The show was thoughtfully laid out.Technically, it exceeded my expectations.

I was also impressed by what I saw in the ring. The subtle promotional message behind all Super Indy shows is that you will see the stars of the future. You will see future pay per view main event performers. You may even see the next CM Punk or A.J. Styles. Did anyone at Super Indy XII meet that description?

Maybe.

Ranking The MITB Cash-Ins

Money In The Bank may be the best gimmick WWE has ever come up with. It's a shortcut to the main event for rising stars. It also creates some unforgettable moments. Here's a fun little exercise to rank the cash-ins. It's interesting how certain names keep coming up in the history of MITB.

The Road To WrestleMania

Should we all be resigned to the fact that the main event of WrestleMania XXIX will be rematch between The Rock and John Cena for the WWE Championship? It appears that is the endgame being laid out as we approach the Royal Rumble. Where does that leave some of the other top stars? Here's some predictions following the first Raw of 2013.

#FiftyMatches - The Rock Goes Hollywood

July 21, 2002

The Undertaker v. The Rock v. Kurt Angle

WWE Undisputed Championship

Vengeance 2002

"The most awesome triple threat match I've ever seen in my life!" -Jim Ross

On April 19, 2002 the first movie to feature The Rock in a starring role arrived in theaters.

And the people came.

Spare Thoughts: Tragedies And Legacies

Javon Belcher was an NFL linebacker, so unremarkable many fans of the game didn't know his name.

Until now.

Chris Benoit was the greatest technical professional wrestler of his generation, but few outside the industry and the WWE's influence knew who he was. Then, came the double murder-suicide that destroyed a family, changed professional wrestling and tore down what was once a sterling legacy.

How we remember Chris Benoit and Javon Belcher is no longer in the hands of the fans who closely followed their careers; those who saw the good times. Now, their legacies are shaped by countless people. Journalists and writers. Everyday people with whom we share our thoughts and opinions.

Just about everyone thinks they already have the story figured out.

There's always a rush to judgement in the wake tragedies such as these, but there's something different when it comes to Javon Belcher. It's even more apparent when compared to the Benoit tragedy just over five years ago.

WWE has done everything short of erasing Chris Benoit from its history. His name is never spoken on its television programs. It's rare that one of his matches appears on a DVD. Once the circumstances and realities of that horrific scene outside Atlanta, Georgia became apparent, WWE was done with Chris Benoit. It all played out in a matter of days.

In The Arrowhead Stadium locker room Sunday, Javon Belcher's uniform and helmet were still hanging in his locker after the Chiefs' emotional win over the Carolina Panthers. Players tried to express their feelings about their teammate, but in most cases words failed them. These are men who called Belcher their friend; their brother. Just as Chris Jericho and others called Benoit their friend as they tried to reconcile their emotions on cable news network talk shows.

Some networks and news outlets have been criticized for how they've responded to the Belcher tragedy. They've been accused of forgetting the real victims, the murdered girlfriend and the infant daughter left without her parents. There have been makeshift memorials in Belcher's memory. I have to admit. It's all a bit unsettling.

Perhaps you've heard the whispers about Javon Belcher's medical history. It appears head injuries were not an issue for him. The Kansas City Chiefs chairman was quoted by the New York Post.

Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said today that Belcher was "a player who had not had a long concussion history.’’

However, by some accounts, Belcher had been acting strangely recently. At least that's what one of his friends told Deadspin in the days following the murder-suicide.

Belcher "was dazed and was suffering from short-term memory loss. He could not remember the events that had taken place prior to that game

This is nothing new. It's a story we've heard repeated following the sudden and sometimes tragic deaths of other professional athletes. It's the story of Chris Benoit in the years, months and weeks before he murdered his wife and son before taking his own life. Not many are interested in that side of Benoit's story, but in Belcher's case they're ready to listen.

This is a good thing, isn't it? People are willing to consider the possibility that Javon Belcher's terrible acts may not have been his own. They could have been caused by brain damage or related mental illness. What a huge step forward this is from the knee-jerk reaction to the Benoit tragedy.

The hero turned villain of professional wrestling never received that due process. Even among his most die-hard fans, there are many who never want to hear Chris Benoit's name again, or see one of his matches because of the terrible tragedy that ended the lives of him and his family.

The uncomfortable truth for those people is that Chris Benoit was sick.

Experts believe that CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) may have been a cause or contributing factor in the Benoit tragedy.

Benoit had suffered severe brain damage during a decades long career in professional wrestling. Entertaining you. His brain was studied. The conclusions are in black and white, but even at this moment some are shaking their heads while reading this because they refuse to accept that reality. The terrible actions that came at the end of Chris Benoit's life were not his own.

Whether Javon Belcher's actions can be attributed to brain damage incurred by his career in professional football is irrelevant. What matters is that people are willing to consider the possibility. Their minds have been opened to the compounding toll of the violent collisions that make up many of our most popular sports.

Me, My DVR & Raw (11/5/12)

In what may be a regular column, the author uses his DVR to condense WWE Raw into an efficient, digestible television program. Segments are graded simply, as "nothing" or "something". The more "something", the better for all of us.

8:41PM - DVR ENGAGE!

Segment 1 - First, it must be said. What in the blue hell is up with this voice-over guy? Am I watching a special two-part episode of "A-Team"? I declare this DUMB. Somehow, they also sneak in a backstage segment in which, out of the blue, The Miz quits Team Punk. I guess that technically makes this Something! We are not off to a good start. Opening match is CarSterio & R-Truth v. Antonio Cesaro & Prime Time Players. Truth translating "get got" into various foreign languages makes for a solid Tout.

Segment 2 - Sin Cara not looking very crisp tonight. Meanwhile, Titus O'Neil looks great. R-Truth debuts a suplex into a stunner that looked cool. He pins Cesaro, presumably to set up a U.S. Title match at Survivor Series. Looks like the hostilities between the tag teams aren't over either. Story lines are advancing, so I must declare this segment Something!

Segment 3 - The King returns next Monday. You can hate on WWE for promoting it, but television is a business, November is probably the most crucial month for ratings and Lawler's return is something viewers will want to see. We are now into the weekly 8:30 p.m. "Monday Night Football Killer" segment. Here's Vicki to discuss the Cena/AJ SCANDAL. "Hanky panky is not allowed." Here's John Cena. This is a good time to point out that Raw is in Birmingham, England tonight. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" -England.  Vicki unveils new surveillance video! It probably wouldn't stand up in court, but fans already decided last week that Cena's guilty, so this whole exercise is pretty pointless. England hates Cena, but they love AJ. She shows up on the tron to threaten Vicki. Dolph slides in to hit on her. Cena scurries away, once again metaphorically jobbing to Vicki. Evil laugh for the win! It was busy, but in the end this was Nothing.

Segment 4 - England loves Wade Barrett. He joins Team Punk, telling Heyman, "You owe me, and I want that in writing." Pretty vague for a binding contract, I think. Something! Daniel Bryan gets probably the loudest ovation of the night for his entrance. This man is WWE's top star. Too bad he's stuck in a tag team with no end in sight. There's a short match with Cody Rhodes, which Rhodes wins with a little interference from Damien Sandow. That was...brief. Cody's gimmick continues to be that he is a complete moron, because he accidentally makes a match for his tag team partner...

Segment 5 - Kane vs. Damien Sandow. Bryan and Rhodes get ejected. Kane eviscerates Sandow. Pretty lame week for Team Friendship. Nothing.

Segment 6 - Time to explain yourself, Brad Maddox. I appreciate him coming out in street clothes. I was worried he'd still be in a referee's shirt. Maddox does a very good job here on the microphone. There are plenty of guys with a lot more experience who've blown similar opportunities. Maddox did not blow his shot here. In fact, he was pretty damn good. He says he wasn't working for Punk and Heyman when he screwed Ryback. He really wants to be a WWE superstar. He worked so hard for a developmental contract. "You can't wrestle!" -England. Jerks. Maddox was told he'd never make it, but he wouldn't quit and became a referee. He knew he just needed one chance to make an impact. Now, he's famous. Can't argue with any of this. I like the direction WWE took this, and as I said, Maddox did a real good job. He says he wants a contract and a match with Ryback. He then caps things off with the potentially embryonic catchphrase, "Thank youuuuu." Vince McMahon comes out. Says he thinks Maddox is lying. He also says he'll give him a $1 million contract if he beats Ryback next week. Enter Vicki. Vince second guesses just about every decision she's made as Interim Managing General Whatever. Is he rebooking Survivor Series on the fly? We're now getting CM Punk vs. Ryback vs. (whisper) John Cena for the WWE Championship. "Disarray" is the word Cole chooses to describe all this. I think that's pretty accurate. Something!

Segment 7/8 - The Miz gets a decent showing against Sheamus, but eventually is beaten by the Brogue Kick. Big Show's guest commentary was a pleasant distraction, as he threatened to punch out Cole and gave a lesson on big man/little man psychology in professional wrestling. Backstage, the Survivor Series heel team is rebranded Team Ziggler, and the WWE Champion is seen for the first time tonight. It's 9:30 p.m. Vince makes Punk/Dolph vs. Cena/Ryback for tonight's main event. A little Nothing (for Segment 7), a little Something! (for Segment 8)

Segment 9 - Fandangoo? Alrighty. Nothing.

Segment 10 - Divas. FF cityyyyyyyy. Nothing but pretty girls.

9:53PM - WE ARE LIVE!

Segment 11 - Kofi vs. Del Rio. Orton distracts. Kofi rolls up ADR for the win. RKO after the match...just for fun. Nothing.

Segment 12 - Team CoBro vs. Primo & Epico. Cobra. Done. Nothing.

Segment 13 - Brodus Clay vs. Wade Barrett. KILL WADE! KILL! Souvenir. Swoon. Nothing.

Segment 14 - Time for 3MB, but Drew McIntyre is nowhere to be seen. Jinder Mahal is COMMITTED to the turban and leather combo, and I thank him for that. Slater uses the Impaler DDT to beat Jey Uso. It's dubbed the Smash Hit. "Thank you Birmingham!!!" Nothing.

Segment 15 - Punk talks. 351 days if you still care. Nothing.

Segment 16 - Main event time. Cena gets kicked around for a while. Finally tags Ryback, and it's DONE. Punk is pinned. England loves this. Cena and Ryback stare down to end the show. Guess who the crowd chooses? Nothing.

"SOMETHING" TO "NOTHING" RATIO: 5:11

Tonight's Raw is a perfect example of what's been going wrong since it expanded to three hours. No, it's not the three hours. It's the complete lack of eventful content past around the midway point of the show. I know WWE wants to hook people early, but what's the point if there's NOTHING worth staying for? Why invite people to eat at your restaurant if the food you're serving is terrible? Why work so hard to get viewers to tune in early if you're not going to put anything interesting on the show? Raw is a mess. There's very little happening to keep me interested, and sitting through this program (even with the benefit of DVR) is becoming laborious.